~ Some days are cloudier than others. . .

A drama unfolded outside my window

Mother’s day was kind of hard for me, but it was for reasons you might not imagine.

Yes, I missed my Mom – but also revelled in lots of wonderful memories. Yes, I’m sorry our sons could not be with me, but they all sent their greetings and love, and I enjoyed the chats and texts! Yes, Hubs was away for the weekend, but that was actually my decision. It was originally planned for me to be with him, but the opportunity to perhaps catch some needed sleep kept me at home to give it a try. He visited Paine College in Augusta, GA to do some research on a project he is working on, and then went on to a college reunion (his 49th – odd year, but he was invited to attend by some classmates who were celebrating their 50th and wanted him there!)

No, the reason for my sadness was a heart-rending view of the way of Nature as it happened outside the window in our upstairs hallway. The property on which our house was built 111 years ago was a Christmas Tree farm at one time, and although most of the fir trees were taken down for their original purpose, we have in our front yard two magnificent Douglas Firs – at least 25-30 feet tall. They almost hide our house from view of the street.

The trees have served as a nesting spot for different birds over the years, and are generally quite safe from predators because of their densely crowded branches. I went to the window because I heard a huge racket coming through the glass. Then I saw a pair of robins screaming and darting back and forth in and around the tree, seemingly frantic. For good reason. Next into view came a large crow with something dangling from his beak. He sat on the uppermost branch and just glared at the robins, not the least bit intimidated. The item in his beak would occasionally jerk and wiggle. I thought at first it was a large bundle of twigs, suitable perhaps for building its own nest, and that the robins were trying to scare it away from their own nest hidden in the tree.

I soon realized to my horror, however, that it was not twigs in the crow’s beak but a newly hatched robin chick. It was still alive and struggling, and its parents were trying desperately to get the crow to drop its prize. In case you are not aware of it, crows are omnivorous, and will eat whatever strikes their fancy – from seeds to roadkill to the occasional defenseless prey.

I happened to have my camera near by but I could not bring myself to photograph the scene I was witnessing, as I tried to figure if there was something I could do to stop it When the crow finally took off, baby in its beak, I watched as the pair of robins just sat on the end of a lower branch. They eventually left and went back, I assume, to their nest, where I prayed there were other chicks still thriving in their nest. I do not know.

If you remember, the last photo on my “Second sight” post was of a male robin. (Posted again below.) He has his eyes fixed on the fir-tree (not in the photo). My tendency to anthropomorphize birds and animals goes unchecked at times like this, and I felt I knew what was on the robin’s mind. He thought of his distraught mate, and he thought of the young one he had helped bring into being that was no more. I consoled myself that perhaps he told himself that such is the way of life and death. Both are always present, and both have their ways. Yes, life will find a way, and so will death. It is all part of the plan, but still. . .

So, Mother’s Day was a bit hard for me. But I learned to treasure even more the wonderful times I have had being a mother to our three sons. I have had more time than many, and I pray for many more years to come, but whatever happens, I offer praise and thanksgiving to the God of my life, who notes even the fall of the tiniest sparrow – or robin – and knows that it is not the end.

I wish you enough sorrow, so that you will more greatly treasure all your joys; I wish you enough “hellos” to sustain you through every “good-bye;” I wish you all, my Gentle Readers, enough. . .

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About Paula Tohline Calhoun

I love life, and treasure it each day, because I have come so very close to losing it, more times than I can count! That's not to say that I don't get grumpy, so I've chosen this photo of me with "Andi" nibbling on my ear. Andi belongs to our son Josh, the eldest of our three sons - the others being Matt and Adam.
I strive to improve in all aspects of my life. Some days I'm more successful than others, in much the same way as my blog says, "some days are cloudier than others." I live and love by the Grace of God. My wish, my prayer for everyone is enough. . .

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22 thoughts on “A drama unfolded outside my window”

Oh karma! My backyard erupted into a frenzy of crows recently. Twenty squawking frantic pilgrims! As I dashed outdoors, (no camera) I saw a Red-tailed hawk take off amid a true “murder” of crows. They would have killed the raptor if they were able. Left behind, 3 dead crow fledglings at the base of my towering blue spruce. One week at the most, and their adventure in life would have begun!

I probably wouldn’t want to see a baby crow be taken from its nest, either, except I think it would have been easier to accept than seeing the robin taken away. I mean with crows, “you live by the sword, you die by the sword,” or some such. . .

Paula, that part of nature is hard to understand. There was a one legged Coot down at Lake Davis we all admired as to its getting along so well. One moring during my walk I heard it squeeling and a hawk had sunk its claws into the back of the helpless Coot and flew away with it sqeeling. Horrors! I hear it is the balance of nature and the weak ones are targets for predators. I know how you felt about the little Robin. Beautiful photograph you made—truly lovely. Was nice to end your story with.

I recently chased a squirrel away from a sparrow’s nest outside my living room balcony. I felt the urgency you described to prevent it’s attack – but also knew it would be back when I wasn’t watching. I’m glad I don’t have to discern the “whys” in nature! But I’ll pray the crows stay far from you and your family. Much love! Paul

In a way, I’m sort of glad I don’t know the “whys!” As long as God knows, I will have to be satisfied – or at least accepting (God and I don’t always get along, but I have learned to accept that God generally knows best. . .LOL).

BTW, one of my favorite books of all time is by J.B. Phillips called “Your God is Too Small.” It is an excellent book to read when dealing with questions about how we understand (or don’t) God’s work in the world and in our lives!

Thanks for the visit, Paul! Wish we could see you in person! How about a trip to NC?

That is a sad sight to see on Mother’s Day! But it reminds me a little bit of the story that my daughter and I watched recently – Disney’s nature film, African Cats – they did a great job of making us root for the lions and cheetahs, so that when the cats chased down an antelope or zebra, we felt glad, because the mothers would live to care for their young cubs. There are a lot of untold stories in nature, I guess.

I tried to think about the cycle of life, that all creatures have to eat, all that. Doesn’t keep me from being a bit sad watching the young ones die so gruesomely. I can root for the big cats – I know they are disappearing – at the same time I ache a bit for the animals they feed upon.

How sad. I can imagine your desire to rescue the chick. The robin photo is superb. Robins where I came from, upper Ohio and southeastern Michigan, had red breasts but they were more orange than the bright red in your photo. The robin’s breast is as beautiful as the red red of the cardinal. Blessings to you, Paula…

I’m always amazed at videographers who can film killer whales and polar bears attacking and eating baby seals, lions killing zebras, lion prides ganging up on an elephant, komodo dragons taking down water buffalo, or rattlesnakes killing rodents.

If it were me, I’d probably put down the camera and try to intervene . . . perhaps (in doing so) I’d upset the balance of nature and do more harm than good. 😉

When I listen to the behind the scenes discussions, many videographers say it is HARD to stand by as a cute innocent “bites the dust.” But they keep filming because they didn’t set the wheels in motion . . . and it’s not their job to stop them.

Those are the things I kept telling myself as I watched it all happen. Like you, I’m always amazed at how wildlife videographers can do their job without intervening. They are right in that it might upset the balance of nature, and it would be an interference to intervene, but somewhere I have read the philosophy that just the act of observing is an intervention, so when do you stop? Don’t know the answer – probably never will, but I recognize that all creatures have to eat, there is a food chain out there, however odious it might seem to sentimental humans like me. I just hope those baby crows were starving. . .

Oh no! That was a sad and dreadful thing too watch. I too witnessed something similiar with baby mockingbird and a hawk a few summers ago. It’s heartbreaking. Those are someones babies. I fuss over all of the birds in and around my yard and keep a good check on them. Maybe it means we have a little extra mothering in our souls. 🙂

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Every poem or story or essay I post here is a draft, and usually a very early draft. I'm still learning how to look at my writing objectively, and when it comes to fixing what's broken or just non-functioning, ...whew. I don't ask for formal critique--that's a lot of work. But if you notice anything you think might help a poem (including, but not limited to spelling and punctuation!), please don't hesitate to mention it. In the comments, that's fine, or drop me a note: ptohlinecalhoun@gmail.com.

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"Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God."

~~I Peter 1:18-21, The Message

"The greatest and most difficult lesson, at times,, is learning to trust God."

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I love life, and treasure it each day, because I have come so very close to losing it, more times than I can count! That's not to say that I don't get grumpy, so I've chosen this photo of me with "Andi" nibbling on my ear. Andi belongs to our son Josh, the eldest of our three sons - the others being Matt and Adam.
I strive to improve in all aspects of my life. Some days I'm more successful than others, in much the same way as my blog says, "some days are cloudier than others." I live and love by the Grace of God. My wish, my prayer for everyone is enough. . .